VASCO/MARGAO: A Goa-bound charter flight from Russia with 240 passengers and seven crew members onboard was diverted to Uzbekistan early Saturday morning, after the airport director received an email, claiming that there was a bomb on the plane.
The Dabolim International Airport was put on high alert and the Police, The Quick Response Team (QRT), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Bomb Disposal Squad, Fire Brigade and dog squad were deployed at the airport as a precautionary measure.
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The flight which was scheduled to arrive at Dabolim at 4:15 pm will now arrive only after an extensive search of the plane is carried out.
This was the second incident involving the same Russian Azur Airways flight reported within a fortnight. The flight was immediately diverted to Uzbekistan airport before it entered the Indian air space.
On January 9, the same flight with 244 passengers onboard was diverted to Jamnagar airport in Gujarat, following a bomb threat.
Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh informed mediapersons that last time a call was made to the Azur Airways while, this time a threat mail was sent to the Goa Airport Director at around 12.25 pm on Saturday. The email stated that the Azur Air had a bomb planted and the Airport authorities immediately alerted police, who activated their teams. Following a meeting with the authorities concerned, the flight was diverted to Uzbekistan, he said.
“We don’t want to take any chances and we have taken all precautionary measures and we will verify this incident as well,” he added.
DySP Shaikh said that though the police had no further information about the arrival of the flight, it will deboard the passengers at Dabolim Airport and depart with Russian charter tourists who were in Goa, on its return journey.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government is on guard with regards to the alleged bomb threats for the Russian Charter flights.
“Our intelligence and State Disaster Management Authority teams are on their guard about incidents like the bomb threats received by Russia to Goa charter flight. Goa being a tourist destination, such rumours are being spread and fake alerts are being issued by miscreants unnecessarily. They should not do it,” he added.
